Get well, Rudy!

The article says "he finished touring with Champions on Ice" and that Rudy is quoted as saying he expects "to tour with Champions again next spring." Not a single mention of SOI, so I expect the original post is just a mistake/typo.

Anyway, I'm so glad to hear that the operation went well -- and that Rudy is in great spirits! He is a real trouper -- and I hope all those who were ragging on his "watered down" performances this spring are suitably chastened. We all knew he was skating with a hip injury so I don't understand some of the harsh criticism I read on several message boards. Skating with a fracture in his femur is quite amazing -- and must have been excruciatingly painful. Here's to a complete recovery Rudy -- I'll be looking forward to seeing you skating in COI again!

Will Rudy be able to skate again at the level he's been skating for the past several seasons? Will he be forced to water down all of his programs to accommodate his physical limitations?

Hopefully, Rudy will make a full recovery and will regain all of his triples. It would be a sad thing to see him return and be able to perform "only" singles and doubles. Granted, with his high level of choregraphy and artistry, even a program of all singles and double would be interesting. It just wouldn't be the same, however. Shades of Tara Lipinski....

What Rudy probably won't be able to do are some of his flexibility moves--splits, possibly the Y spin, maybe the shotgun spin although that may still be possible since it has a frontal orientation, not a side one. Another thing he probably won't be able to do is a spread eagle--inside or outside edge--because of the angle it requires in the hip joint. Spirals and Ina Bauers should be ok.

Jumping should actually be less affected. He got his triple axel back after his HIV+ diagnosis and did triple loops, flips, salchows, and toes in his COI programs for a couple of years thereafter.

Spinning should also be ok.

Rudy is indomitable when he has something to prove... If he can do double axels and triple toes, even in combination, on a fractured femur, he'll probably tackle something more when not in pain. He might even invent something.

Regardless of whether or not Rudy returns to the ice (and I sure hope he does!), I will cherish the memory of his stunning victory at the 1996 US Nationals. In my opinion, Rudy's long program ranks right up there among the finest men's long programs ever skated at Nationals. It was brilliant! Great jumps, spins, choregraphy - and right in front of his hometown crowd.